5150 Fighter Pilot boardgame - game 01 a short two mission campaign

Introduction

I signed up for four boardgames from the Two Hour Wargames boardgamekickstarter.  The PDFs have arrived and I cannot wait until the games are actually delivered to start playing.  I have already had a go at 5150 Back AlleyBright Lights.  Next up is 5150 FighterPilot.

The fighters are Star Wars Micro Machines.  The report is not long.

Prologue

Rafael Bates is a Rep 4 Gaean in a Light Fighter with Thrust 5, Firepower 3 and Hull 1.

Rafael in his light fighter

Rafael is fairly new at this, and hopes to go far.

Mission 1

Rafael gets the call! His mission is to perform a line patrol – there are a couple of possible targets on the scanner (2 PEFs in locations 6 and 1) 

Rafael burns his way to the first blip.  He reports back to base “Nothing here, on my way to the next location.”  But the next location moved to him and it is a enemy medium fighter!

Contact!

Erin Barton is a Rep 4 in a Medium Fighter with Thrust 4, Firepower 2 and Hull 3.

*erin

The enemy: Erin Barton in a medium fighter 

Erin is distracted by flashing lights on here instruments and this has an impact on her manoeuvring. Rafael gets In the zone which helps him with manoeuvring. So much so he manages to line up a shot, and does what looks like a devastating hit, knocking out all Erin’s guns and a big hole in her hull.

Rafael blows a hole in the hull and destroys her guns.

 Erin makes a run for it and Rafael’s inexperience shows as Erin makes if safely away.

*run

Erin escapes!

However, Rafael is commended for successfully performing his first mission.

Mission 2

The next day, Rafael is called up to the fighter bay again.

"Deep Line Patrol today.  See what is actually there.” (3 PEFs all in locations 5)

Rafael is sent out on patrol again.

Rafael starts his patrol and rather than race to the three blips, he awaits to see if any are real and will come to him.  This turns out to be the worst decision Rafael can make. All three blips move towards him and coalesce into five fighters.  Rafael recognises the fighter markers as belonging to that 

infamous ace, Bruce “five rep” Mark. 

Unlucky! 5 fighters!

Five against one, how bad can it be?  And to make matters worse, Rafael’s fuel indicators show a leak.  Unbeknownst to Rafael, Bruce Mark is able to dig deep inside himself today, giving him a further edge on for the upcoming manoeuvring.  Mark lines up Rafael in his sights and sends his fire pumping into Rafael’s hull, blowing his ship up.

Rafael is blown up by the enemy ace.

Note: rolled all 6’s on Star Power at the end to try and save him from at least the first ship.

Star Power dice roll

Thus ends the (short) career of Rafael Bates in the defence of his home.

Verdict

Fast and furious.  I do like the way the combat works with no table movement and a few simple rolls for advantage and manoeuvre.  I will be playing another campaign soon, hopefully longer.